Frankly, I think it was a big mistake to allow Muslims to retain control of the Temple Mount. If prayer bothers a group of people, that group should not be in charge of a holy site.

So, then, Jews shouldn't control the western wall as long as women can't pray freely there.

Disclaimer: The opinions of this member are not primarily informed by western ethnocentric paradigms, stereotypes rooted in anti-Muslim/Islam hysteria, "Israel can do no wrong" intransigence, or the perceived need to protect the Judeo-Christian world from invading foreign religions and legal concepts. By expressing such views, no inherent attempt is being made to derail or hijack threads, but that may be the result. The result is not the responsibility of this member.

Jews also visit the Temple Mount. Nothing exciting there either, despite the hype.

Disclaimer: The opinions of this member are not primarily informed by western ethnocentric paradigms, stereotypes rooted in anti-Muslim/Islam hysteria, "Israel can do no wrong" intransigence, or the perceived need to protect the Judeo-Christian world from invading foreign religions and legal concepts. By expressing such views, no inherent attempt is being made to derail or hijack threads, but that may be the result. The result is not the responsibility of this member.

A recent examination of communal prayer books in the Western Wall shows large numbers of fecal bacteria, a contamination that far exceeds the normal rate.

The contamination was found in books both from the women's section and the men's section. Still, the Western Wall's rabbi argues that the blame is solely on the women that tend to hold the books close to their faces and shed tears.

. . .

Although the books are used by men and women alike, the holy site's rabbi, Shmuel Rabinovitch placed the blame solely on the women. He claimed that hundreds of women cry every day into the books, causing contamination.

The rabbi added that the power of women's prayer is often stronger than men's thanks to their tears, excitement and spiritual transcendence.

Continued at the link.

Disclaimer: The opinions of this member are not primarily informed by western ethnocentric paradigms, stereotypes rooted in anti-Muslim/Islam hysteria, "Israel can do no wrong" intransigence, or the perceived need to protect the Judeo-Christian world from invading foreign religions and legal concepts. By expressing such views, no inherent attempt is being made to derail or hijack threads, but that may be the result. The result is not the responsibility of this member.

But Jews ARE NOT allowed to pray on the Temple Mount. They are not allowed to pray because the Muslims get all upset about Jews praying on Judaism's holiest site, which is being occupied by Muslims who (despite all protestations about how much they revere the site) could give a rat's rear end about the place. We know that Muslims do not give a rat's rear end about the place because they turn their rumps to it 5 times daily, they use the Temple Mount as a Muslim only play park, they desecrate their own buildings on the Mount and they have no problem tossing historically significant artifacts in the dump.

I didn't say anything about Jews praying at the Temple Mount. I said they visit the Temple mount.

BTW, playing soccer and such at a mosque/masjid is not a desecration. Mosques are community centers, places to gather for all sorts of events, not sacred houses of God. Communal prayer, mandatory for men, is held in masjids, but Muslims can pray in any place that is clean and dry.

Disclaimer: The opinions of this member are not primarily informed by western ethnocentric paradigms, stereotypes rooted in anti-Muslim/Islam hysteria, "Israel can do no wrong" intransigence, or the perceived need to protect the Judeo-Christian world from invading foreign religions and legal concepts. By expressing such views, no inherent attempt is being made to derail or hijack threads, but that may be the result. The result is not the responsibility of this member.

I was just recently told that hardly any Jews visit the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque any more since the change. I was there twice (1991 & 1999), and had nor saw any problems, but I understand that the 2nd Intifada also put a damper on the visitations ever since.

I was just recently told that hardly any Jews visit the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque any more since the change. I was there twice (1991 & 1999), and had nor saw any problems, but I understand that the 2nd Intifada also put a damper on the visitations ever since.

Chief Rabbis Rabbi Shlomo Amar and Rabbi Yonah Metzger joined by other top rabbis in proclaiming Mount off limits due to halakhic issues.

By Gil Ronen

First Publish: 3/6/2012

Chief Sephardic Rabbi (Rav) Rabbi Shlomo Amar has published a call to believers not to ascend to the Temple Mount. The call appears under the heading "avoid ascending to the Mount and touching its edge," which was the ruling about Mount Sinai in the Book of Exodus before the Ten Commandments.

Rav Amar's declaration was co-signed by former Chief Sephardic Rabbi Rav Eliyahu Bakshi Doron; Rav Shalom Cohen, Head of Porat Yosef Yeshiva in the Old City of Jerusalem, Old City Rabbi Rav Avigdor Neventzal, and Kotel Rabbi, Rav Shmuel Rabinovich.

It followed in the footsteps of declarations by Rav Tzvi Yehudah Kook and Rav Avraham Elkana Shapira, both Chief Rabbis and heads of the Zionist flagship yeshiva, Merkaz HaRav in Jerusalem, who expressly forbade ascending the Mount. Rav Zalman Melamed, Dean of Beit El Yeshiva, is also against it. All hareidi rabbis forbid it.

Continued at the link.

Disclaimer: The opinions of this member are not primarily informed by western ethnocentric paradigms, stereotypes rooted in anti-Muslim/Islam hysteria, "Israel can do no wrong" intransigence, or the perceived need to protect the Judeo-Christian world from invading foreign religions and legal concepts. By expressing such views, no inherent attempt is being made to derail or hijack threads, but that may be the result. The result is not the responsibility of this member.